Solar Max

I note that more and more, paperless caching is the way to go. Perhaps I should take the next step. Now, whose step will that be? Palm Pilot, Clie, Windows CE?

!) Meridian Platinum (256 MB SD card), eTrex Legend 2) Paper, and a laptop in the car 3)No Plans to upgrade. The Magallan DirectRoute software does Turn by Turn now. Very cool, it's what I asked Garmin Claus for last Xmas.

LOL, I don't think you made a mistake at all, Inspector Gadget. Above all, these things are a matter of personal preference. Very few of us ever completely explore everything that an electronic device as complicated as a GPS receiver can do. I, for one, go for personal gratification. As my better half constantly reminds me, the first thing I ever did with my first Garmin was to run around taking waypoints at City Hall, Fire Stations, Police stations (sound familiar to any of you?) because I wanted to be able to DO something with the thing. Then I went and found some geocaches with it. Only then did I start to realize what some of the other features were for. Garmin and Magellan, as well as Lowrance, Cobra, Eagle, and others make great products. Some of us prefer one over the other, some just want to use the things. I admit one thing, though: I'm a sucker for bells and whistles. The Platinum has plenty of those. Do I need to know the barometric pressure? No. Do I want to look at it? Yup. Do I need the Magnetic Compass? Of course not, I carry a real compass every time I go hiking or caching. Do I like it? You bet! Does the display look less professional than a Garmin's? Yes it does. Do I care? Well, maybe a little. I just want a new toy every now and then. There's blatant honesty for you.

The GoTo got me to Low, Quebec, while I was playing with it today. I think 6 people live there now. ( My dad's home town.) I didn't have the address, because I don't think it exists anymore. Now we need Garmin to redo the GPS V with expandable memory. Or maybe we should all go get the 60 CS....mmmm nice toy.

Looks like the only place in Olympia with High Speed Internet access is the Ameritel? If anyone knows of a good hotel deal with HSIA, could you let us out-of towners know? It's time to book some reservations.

I agree about the 8 screens. I have the Platinum down to 4, as you can choose to include or exclude them. The GoTos are a little more involved ( I just hit Goto, then User Waypoints, then Position, so 3 clicks, where the Legend has just 2 for Waypoints, then Nearest) The tracklog is indeed superior on the Garmin. I just wish there was a way to upgrade memory on the Garmin units. To navigate to New Brunswick, I can empathize. I have MapSend Canada installed on my Platinum, and it has every map in the country on the unit now. It CAN navigate to just a city, or an address. I don't believe that Magellan endorses these big (128MB) and above SD cards, (because they don't make them, and don't make money from them) but they work just fine in my unit, and others, as my research indicated before I bought the 256 MB card. Don't get me wrong, we have 4 Garmins in the house. They are excellent units. I DO like the new toy, however.

I have now decided between the Legend, and the Meridian Platinum. The Garmin is great for Moving map apps in the car, with it's small screen made up for with the big laptop screen. It also fits nicely in my pocket. HOWEVER.... The Platinum with it's magnetic compass, audible alerts, and 256 MB on an SD card, and now the brand new DirectRoute autorouting software, is just a great machine. I'm sorry, Legend, you'll always have a place hooked to the laptop.

I run OziExplorer on my Compaq laptop hooked via serial cable to a Legend. Ozi is running digital topos, and works like a charm. I'd never go back to looking at that small Legend screen, when the Compaq is up and going over on the passenger seat. ( I only peek at it when at red lights.)

I ordered mine a week ago, and am waiting patiently. Looking forward to seeing the updated Canada maps. I guess I'll have to wait a little longer than the US Magellan users, because of longer shipping times.

I agree with some others: Spend a little more and get the Meridian Platinum. $240 on-line, and I have ALL of Canada loaded on my 256 MB SD card, with 200 MB left over for US Maps. The magnetic compass makes all of the difference when standing still trying to get a bearing to the cache. Very cool.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all from those of us who did Thanksgiving back in October. Hope the holiday finds you hale, hearty, and with a plate full of seconds.

1) Yes. We use OziExplorer and MapSource (the new one) This is immensely helpful for finding access to a cache when in the vehicle, provided that you have good Topo or other maps. 2) Absolutely. It works great with my Legend. 3) Nope. She'll soon realize that it's your toy, not hers. Ask Cacherunner, she'll tell you that she never sees our Laptop.

Official Canadian repair site, Garmin Canada: Raytech Electronique 1451 boul Des Laurentides, Vimont, Laval PQ 1-450-975-1015 Raytech They did one of my Garmins a while back. It was two days getting there three there, and three back.

I have noticed that the Basemap is much more complete. and the errors that I noted previously around southern BC have been corrected, but I have only had the software for a few days. The metroguide is a vast improvement, however. So far, a vastly superior product, but please stay tuned for any future whining that I might deem necessary.

I use both a Magellan Meridian Platinum and an eTrex Legend, with mapSource 5 and Mapsend, as well as Magellan's new Directroute TBT software. The Magellan now does TBT, but the Garmin doesn't. The Garmin does some things better, the Magellan others. Example, the Magellan averages coords much more quickly , and gives a better, faster reading. The Garmin always gets the same coords, but takes longer. The Garmin has better menus, though. So far, I lean towards the Meridian, but just barely.

Sigh...

What is this thing "BEER", and where might one obtain it? It has medicinal qualities, I presume? How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

Huh? How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

Cacherunner got her new Xmas Rino 120 today, (Santa got here early, and apparently he lives in Oregon. Must be NORTHERN Oregon) so she's off playing. Hope the sun doesn't mess up her coords Looking forward to the Aurora blazing tonight. I just wanted to tell you guys we miss you. Come visit. How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

quote:Originally posted by GroundClutter:I would like: 1)GPS V 2)Walking stick 3)Sighting compass 4)30 less pounds 5)to be finished taking courses so that I'll have time to cache! 6)laptop That'll do it for now. Don't want to be greedy! "You are cleared for geocaching." That's pretty funny...you already HAVE most of that...wink wink nudge nudge. How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

quote:Originally posted by eroyd:Nice photo, you can clearly see they're carrying Garmins, or is that just one of those Cormorant "extra parts", falling off. I never go anywhere without my inflatable water walkers. I admit it. I have a Garmin. In my defence, I asked Cache Claus for a Magellan Meridian Platinum (go big or go home, I figure), though, so it can't be me. Or can it? I never go anywhere without my inflatable water wings. How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

quote:Originally posted by Bull Moose:Sorry to hear it. We had a problem with the cachemobile's brakes coming off of Maple Pass Loop hike/cache hide. That was real fun. I can relate. The CacheCruiser had that little tiny spring that holds the self-adjuster in place fall off in Spokane last month, just after the SCM. At least it was after, but it sure made a mess in there. How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

quote:Originally posted by eroyd: These visitor caches have added a welcome bit of foreign flavor to our area. How is lucyandrickie's, "Gift to Victoria" doing? I wasn't given advance notice of where this one would be. As eroyd is aware, I'm not good at finding caches, so the pressure was really on. So far, Gift is hanging in there as well. Washington State Geocaching Association How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

erik88l-r. Sorry Cache-Advance, he edged you by a nose. Washington State Geocaching Association How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?

I understand what you're saying, Keith, but in my view, another replacement cache is NOT the same cache. If the Original page is unarchived, and the container replaced, then it retains much more of it's "History" than would happen if there were just a reference to it on a new cache page. I'm sure there are Southern Ontario caches that are as important to you as this one is for many of us here. As far as the rules go, I am made to understand that if someone volunteers to maintain a "vacation" cache, then it conforms, or so I am told. I have volunteered for that. Washington State Geocaching Association How much intelligence does it take to sneak up on a piece of tupperware?